All work and no play is not the only model for success

Reading Sir Ken Robinson’s article (“The beating heart of human life? The arts”, Comment, 23 January) reminded me of a comparison of two “successful” education systems: South Korea and Finland.

The South Korean model, which has achieved almost 100 per cent literacy, relies on rigorous hard work. Students spend long hours in school and then further long hours with tutors. The Finnish system, however, advocates both rigour and flexibility. Students have a comparatively short school day supplemented with extracurricular activities provided by schools. This system recognises the fact that rich learning can and does take place outside the classroom. The time that both students and teachers devote to engaging in artistic activities shows what can be done in an overcrowded curriculum.

Maybe we can learn from both systems and find a better way to develop all students’ “personal talents and passions”.

Frederick Sandall

Retired headteacher

Short and tweet

What made your week awesome? #PedagooFriday

@pedagoo

The satisfied feeling you get when you finish your reports is akin to the joy of taking off your heels after a night out. #PedagooFriday

@JulesohKate

S1 group creating literature games. Given four weeks to come up with idea, prototype and pitch. Amazing creativity and ideas. #PedagooFriday

@MrDsansom

#PedagooFriday End of two weeks of prelim exams. So proud of our pupils’ focus - they are exhausted. #heroes

@Bedin61

#PedagooFriday Snowboarding fun in the snow using old bits of wood. #creativity

bit.lyWoodboard

@hawkins_joyce

Ancient ex-teacher neighbour, walking to French class, chatted to me in French as I waited for lift. And helped me learn. #PedagooFriday

@dgilmour

#PedagooFriday. Using lining paper to revise - one whole module on the roll. bit.lyPaperTrails

@psychologygem

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